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What's in the Basket is a female-hosted film history podcast that combines research, humour, and progressive politics to deliver the absolute hottest of takes on Old Hollywood, modern movies, and fan culture. Updated Tuesdays at 8 PM Eastern.

What's in the Basket
What's in the Basket

Film History

5.0, 4 Ratings

What's in the Basket is a female-hosted film history podcast that combines research, humour, and progressive politics to deliver the absolute hottest of takes on Old Hollywood, modern movies, and fan culture. Updated Tuesdays at 8 PM Eastern.

Bonus 13. Berlin Correspondent (1942): That's Not His Natural Chomp

This week the Gruesome Twosome heads back to the ol' Dana Andrews well for a research-free look at the World War II thriller Berlin Correspondent (1942). We discuss the film's extremely poor attempts at emulating Foreign Correspondent (1940), the evolution of Hollywood's approach to the war as it unfolded, Hans Gruber's Super Cool Postage Stamp Emporium, and that time Dana's adult braces fused his jaw shut.

This episode was recorded prior to the onset of protests against racism and police brutality across the United States and around the world. If you're unsure how to help, a list of resources can be found at https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co

Show Notes & Sources: https://wp.me/pbeIfn-9M

Theme Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io): "Dark Hallway (Distressed)" and "The Show Must Be Go"

14. Safety Last! (1923): Back Then They Didn't Have Uber Eats

The time has finally come—we're covering a silent film! This week we take a look at the early life and career of Harold Lloyd, culminating in the production of his first masterpiece Safety Last! (1923). Topics include child scammers, prop bombs that aren't prop bombs, towel delivery vans, and our impassioned arguments for why the so-called "third genius" of silent comedy deserves a greater legacy than he has been allotted.

Show Notes & Sources: https://wp.me/pbeIfn-9m

Theme Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io): "Dark Hallway (Distressed)" and "The Show Must Be Go"

13. The Boys in the Band (1970): Are You Going to the Birthday Party?

After three seemingly endless months, we're finally back with a fully-researched episode—and it's our longest yet, so heat up some lasagna and settle in as we tackle William Friedkin's adaptation of Mart Crowley's play The Boys in the Band (1970). Topics include the influence of both play and film on the LGBT rights movement, the use of Old Hollywood references as shorthand by an isolated minority that took refuge in the movies, and Natalie Wood's unmatched gift-giving skills.

Show Notes & Sources: https://wp.me/pbeIfn-8K

Theme Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io): "Dark Hallway (Distressed)" and "The Show Must Be Go"

Bonus 11. Service de Luxe (1938): I Burned Her

It's another Candice-and-Amelia Special this week as the Gruesome Twosome take on Service de Luxe (1938), the Constance Bennett romantic comedy that served as Vincent Price's film debut. Recorded way back on March 7th, we discuss toilet paper shortages from the perspective of that long-ago time before Tom Hanks got COVID-19, then we dig into tractors, arson, fourth-wall breaking, and our dream cast for a remake of the lost Bessie Love vehicle Pegeen (1920).

Show Notes & Sources: https://wp.me/pbeIfn-8F

Theme Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io): "Dark Hallway (Distressed)" and "The Show Must Be Go"

We're looking to the stars this week for a research-free discussion of two very different cinematic approaches to astrology: Thirteen Women (1932), a proto-slasher starring Myrna Loy, and the Joe E. Brown comedy When's Your Birthday? (1937). We talk about the impact of the Production Code on Hollywood's handling of racial subject matter, the only screen appearance of the tragically infamous Peg Entwistle, Billy Wilder's later mastery of Brown's occasionally unappealing schtick, and—of course—hitchhiking babies.

Show Notes & Sources: https://wp.me/pbeIfn-8v

Theme Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io): "Dark Hallway (Distressed)" and "The Show Must Be Go"

Customer Reviews

One of THE best film podcasts period.

I've listened to a ridiculous number of film themed podcasts wanting so badly to find one that "fit". One would be a Wikipedia page read aloud, the next would feature purported experts who, in more cases than I'd ever imagined, had only seen the movie being discussed the day before, another would get so far into the weeds that the film being discussed became an afterthought. What I'm getting at is "What's in the Basket" RULES. It's funny as hell, full of amazing history and never boring. "The Boys in the Band" is one of my all-time favorite movies & good lord do they do it justice, it's literally the best breakdown & analysis of it that I've ever heard: absolutely, freakin' superb !

paulettegoddards
, 11/20/2019

“The Perfect Podcast Doesn’t Exis —“

astute observations on both lesser known and popular classic films, plus hilarious commentary and a few interesting facts about the lives of the men and women of old hollywood, are what make this podcast so refreshing and addicting. catch me laughing my head off at candice’s jokes while listening to this on my morning commute every day! joel mccrea would rate this 5 out of 5 stars so why not check it out?

TomCritic
, 11/12/2019

Wonder Women of Cinema

This is what a podcast is supposed to be-richly informative, densely and deliriously idiosyncratic, and funny as hell! You can’t be silent while you listen: laughing out loud, banging the table because someone finally articulated the brilliant thought you’ve been trying to express or don’t have the insight for to begin with! Movies, stars, or directors you thought you knew everything about? Think again and you will have to think hard because these women stop at nothing to make their points and make you see things you never saw before. Awestruck by their awesomeness doesn’t begin to explain the experience of listening to these phenomenal women.